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Jason Johnson (left) and Brenda Hurlbut of the Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce’s Community Improvement Committee show a patriotic-themed quilt made by Zuby Jansen that will be raffled during Friday’s Dad’s Waffle Feed Fundraiser. Ryan McGaughey/Daily Globe

A total of 74 flags will stretch from near Oxford Street’s intersection with Diagonal Road to Douglas Avenue. It is hoped that the flags will be in place by Memorial Day and hang though the King Turkey Day celebration in September.

“I don’t think it’s ever been done before here — that we’ve had a display like it,” said Brenda Hurlbut, the Community Improvement Committee’s chair.

“There’s been a lot of talk about supporting our veterans,” committee member Carl Nagel added. “This is a way for us to give back and show support for what they did for us through all the different conflicts. I think the younger generation sometimes takes for granted what we have.”

The committee is purchasing flags along with poles, brackets and necessary hardware for the display, and is hosting a Dad’s Belgian Waffle fundraiser from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Worthington Elks Lodge. All proceeds from the event will go toward the “Flags of Freedom” project.

The fundraiser will be an all-you-can-eat event, and varying admission fees will be charged. The project has already received some contributions, Chamber Executive Director Darlene Macklin noted.

“We did get our first donation from First State Bank Southwest to help us kick off the program,” said Macklin, adding that an American-themed quilt made and donated by Zuby Jansen of Crafty Corner will also help raise money via a raffle that will conclude with a drawing during Friday’s event. The quilt includes emblems representative of all the branches of the U.S. military.

Tickets for the feed and quilt are available at the Chamber office, 1121 Third Ave., or from a Chamber member. Flags may also be sponsored for $35, with names of sponsors to be recognized inside the Chamber office.

There will be plenty to do at the fundraiser besides eat, Hurlbut noted. In addition to veterans serving as greeters and members of Worthington’s K-Kids assisting with setting and cleaning tables, children from the Prairie Elementary and Worthington Middle School band ensembles will perform along with local piano students. Students will also read patriotism-themed compositions, and a Worthington Fire Department truck will be parked out front.

“This is just one of the many projects that the Community Improvement Committee does for Worthington,” Macklin said, noting that proceeds from the can trailer located at Worthington’s Schwalbach Ace Hardware go toward various committee projects.

“We know there are a lot of activities in town Friday night, but we’ve scheduled this early so many can come to this event,” Hurlbut said. “We hope to have a lot of people, and look forward to the flags seen by all in Worthington.”

I first joined the Daily Globe in April 2001 as sports editor. I later became the news editor in November 2002, and the managing editor in August 2006. I'm originally from New York State, and am married with two children.